David Moyes believes Everton deserved a point against Wigan, despite the Latics getting a lucky break for their goal.

Tim Howard had a deflected cross well covered until the last moment, when the ball spun away from his grasp and bobbled into the Toffees’ net. Victor Anichebe secured a point for Moyes’ men inside the last ten minutes, and Moyes told evertonTV that Wigan’s goal was disappointing to concede.

“I didn’t think we deserved to go a goal down as we looked comfortable,” said Moyes. “When they scored a bizarre goal, it was a complete fluke. But the boys did brilliantly to get back into it, especially after their efforts in midweek against Manchester City.

“I’m disappointed with not winning but the pitch wasn’t good today. For what the modern player normally plays on, they’re not used to that kind of surface. But it was the same for both teams.
“When you lose a goal after it hits a big divot and bounces the other way, you just don’t see that any more. Because of that we felt it was a bit of injustice so I was pleased we scored.”

Victor Anichebe spared Tim Howard’s blushes as he equalised late on to secure a 1-1 draw away at Wigan Athletic.

The 24 year old glanced home Leighton Baines’ cross in the 82nd minute, to earn the Toffees a point against the Latics, after falling behind to a Phil Neville own goal that deceived Howard in the Everton goal.

Manager David Moyes opted for two changes from the side that beat Manchester City in midweek; giving a second debut to Steven Pienaar, who replaced Royston Drenthe on the left of midfield, and dropping Phil Neville to the bench in place of the fit-again Sylvain Distin, and it was the returning South African who was the fulcrum for much of Everton’s good attacking play early on in the match. Pienaar firstly played in Denis Stracqualursi, who’s tame effort was comfortably held by opposing goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, before teeing up Landon Donovan who’s through ball failed to create an opening due to Stracqualursi drifiting into an offside position.

The first real chance of the half fell to Wigan when Franco Di Santo beat Distin to a through ball; Howard was on hand, though, to clear the ensuing danger. Baines then caused havoc in the Wigan defence when his low cross evaded everyone except Darron Gibson, who contrived to blaze a right footed shot yards over the bar.

Neville replaced the injured Tim Cahill at half time, resulting in a tactical reshuffle for the Blues with Marouane Fellaini supporting El Traca in attack. The substitution, however, seemed to stifle Everton and Wigan looked much the hungrier side as the match wore on and they made the Toffees pay with fifteen minutes of the match remaining. Jean Beausejour, who was Wigan’s standout player, made his way down the Latics’ left flank and crossed the ball into the box. The retreating Neville stuck out a foot in an attempt to divert the danger, only to watch on as the ball spun away from the clutches of Howard and nestled into the bottom left hand corner.

Moyes, who had earlier given Nikica Jelavic his first run out as an Everton player, replaced Tony Hibbert with Anichebe and the sub rewarded his manager with the equaliser late on after Baines’ initial corner had been cleared by Gary Caldwell. Roberto Martinez’s men pushed forward in search of a late winner but could not find a way past a resolute Everton backline, ensuring that a match not helped by the conditions ended with both sides earning a point.

David Moyes has stated that his players must have the same focus against Wigan that they had against Manchester City.

The Toffees triumped over the Citizens in midweek with a 1-0 victory at Goodison Park, and Moyes says that he will make it clear to his charges that the same level of work rate and quality is required against the side currently propping up the Premier League table.

“The Premier League is too unpredictable because of the quality of the sides in every game and I think that is what’s special about the league here,” he said in his pre-match press conference.

“Yeah, there are some great teams in Spain, some great teams in Germany and Italy, but I think it’s when you go lower down that the level of the game and the intensity is better here, where the opposition still try to play.

“We’ve just got to make sure that we go to Wigan, prepare correctly, make sure we’re in the right frame of mind and I’ve got to make sure that I do my job well enough that my players know all they can about Wigan.”

David Moyes has confirmed that Nikica Jelavic and Steven Pienaar will be part of his squad for tomorrow’s match against Wigan.

The Scot stated that both players would get some time on the pitch, despite their lack of football, and he also confirmed that he would have none of his five injured first teamers back for the clash at the DW stadium.

“The big concern out of two boys we brought in is Steven,” said the Everton boss. “Nikica is probably more ready to play, even though he had the flu and didn’t play for Rangers last week.

“Steven is the one who has had only bits and pieces of football so there is a concern as to whether he is ready for 90 minutes and ready for a regular 90 minutes at the moment.

“Sylvain and Jack are getting much closer, but Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman and Seamus Coleman are much further away still. There are some good signs. Leon did a bit of light jogging today which was great to see, but in truth those boys are four weeks away.”

Steven Pienaar believes he can win the adulation of Evertonians following his return to the club.

The South African’s departure to Tottenham last January left a bitter taste in the mouths of some Everton fans, but Pienaar told evertonTV that he would work extra hard to get them back on his side, before explaining why he decided to move on in the first place.

“There’s a lot of pressure on me because of the way I played last time I was here,” he said.

“Hopefully I can recapture that form and make the people happy. I know I’m going to get a lot of stick but I have to make sure that I do well for the Club and maybe some of the supporters will forgive me.”

Of his move to Spurs, Pienaar explained: “It was purely about football. I could’ve stayed, the Club made a good offer for me but I just wanted to have new surroundings, to push myself, challenge myself, but unfortunately things didn’t work out.

“From the start I had problem with my groin and I ended up having an operation in the summer. If I’d stayed [at Everton] I think I  would still have ended up having the operation so things would’ve been the same. But I’m just happy to be back now. The past is the past and I’m looking forward to the future.”